Ten EDM Albums To Hear Before You Die

Tiësto's Just Be
Tiësto is the richest man in EDM, and one of the biggest and most recognizable figures in dance music. Why? This second album from the Dutch mastermind might clear some things up. Beautifully orchestrated, the ten-track emotional journey captures the listener right from the start and pulls them through highs, lows, hard, soft, pain, love. It's the whole PLUR thing totally encapsulated in one perfect trance record. Plus, the closing track "Adagio for Strings" is sure to please even those who don't consider themselves Tiësto fans.



Chemical Brothers' We Are the Night
The Chemical Brothers are living legends. Everyone really should listen to their 1997 album Dig Your Own Hole, a monolithic classic that our good buddies over at Rolling Stone named the second-best EDM album ever. But we here at Crossfade included the Brothers' 2007 record on our list because it showcases a variety and musicality you won't find on many EDM works. It won them a second Grammy for Best Dance/Electronica Album, becoming the only group to enjoy that distinction. It runs a gorgeous gamut between dirty filters, alien synths, driving drums, hip-hop rhythms, interstellar grooves, rock 'n' roll sensibilities, and general artistic bizarreness. All in all, it's just one second shy of the best hour you'll ever spend listening to music.